Earworms vs Encore
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Earworms
Learn languages effectively using the "earworm effect" with catchy music and lyrics. This method anchors foreign language words and phrases into your long-term memory through engaging, brain-based audio-visual lessons. Improve vocabulary and grammar with bite-sized tracks and native speaker pronunciation.
- Learn languages with music and lyrics
- Brain-based learning technique
- Audio-visual experience with karaoke lyrics
- 6-9 minute learning tracks
- Content-rich language based on CEF
- Native speaker pronunciation
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Do you know what “earworm effect” is? Experience it while you learn languages with catchy music and lyrics that you just can't get out of your head. This highly effective award-winning learning technique uses music as the medium to transport words and phrases of a foreign language into your long-term memory. Start your language learning now! Learn Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Maltese, Dutch, Greek, Russian, Arabic, or Turkish and improve your vocabulary and grammar using the power of music. Earworms plant the words of a foreign language into your head with easy language courses. Try our language learning with music lyrics demo for free. THE EARWOMS METHOD 1. Brain-based: The Earworms method not only provides the words, phrases and grammar that you need for language learning, it also actively anchors them into the auditory cortex of your brain! It’s much more than language courses, it's language learning! Learn French, Spanish, English, Italian, German or Dutch listening to music lyrics. 2. Music is the key: Using music as the medium to learn languages is not only fun, it is also effective. Firstly, music puts the learner into the optimum state of consciousness for learning different languages. Secondly, music lyrics learning allows repetition (a prerequisite for language learning). On top of that, music engages and stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, unleashing more learning potential. 3. Chunking: Instead of language learning in terms of individual words and grammar, the Earworms approach immerses the learner in real-life dialogues and expressions with lyrics. These are broken down into bite-size chunks, practiced rhythmically with music and then reconstructed into full sentences. This gives the learner a strong sense of how real language courses are constructed and learning French, Spanish, German, Italian, English and other different languages and their vocabulary becomes easy. IMPORTANT FEATURES * Developed by language teaching experts. * Convenient. 6-9 minute tracks. Listen and learn track by track, any time, anywhere. * Audio-visual experience with 'karaoke-like' live lyrics feature. * Specific unambiguous goals. 200+ optimally selected sets of words and phrases for language learning. * Measurable. Easy tracking of progress of your language courses. * Target language spoken by native speakers - so correct pronunciation is acquired automatically. * Relevant. Carefully chosen content-rich language. Based on the CEF (Common European Framework) and immediately useful to the learner. * Time-bound. The musical memory method enables real rapid progress. E.g. you can learn to count up to 999 in Mandarin in an hour (!) or retain and recall words, phrases and structures in one language level within a couple of weeks. * Educational discounts are available. Visit https://www.earwormslearning.com/edu LANGUAGES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE French + German + Italian + Spanish (European) + Spanish (Lat. American) + Mandarin + Cantonese + Japanese + Arabic + Portuguese (European) + Portuguese (Brazilian) + Russian + Greek + Turkish + Polish + English + Dutch LEVELS There are 3 learning levels available, which will take you up to intermediate level (CEF level A2). * Volume 1. Within a few hours of listening to this volume, you'll have enough vocabulary knowledge of a language to be able to deal with real-life situations like taking a taxi, at the hotel, at the restaurant, requesting, polite phrases, finding your way, numbers, dealing with problems and so on. * Volume 2. This language course will soon have you talking about yourself, chatting and even flirting! * Volume 3. Here you learn more useful everyday situations while going more into the structure, the grammatical rules of the language while improving your vocabulary. NB. The app includes a demo album, full tracks of all languages available – and is free to download. You can then in-app purchase full courses.
Encore
Master English pronunciation and vocabulary by learning through your favorite songs. Explore cultural insights behind the music and improve your speaking skills to sound like a native. Suitable for all English language learners.
- Learn vocabulary through song lyrics
- Improve pronunciation with musical rhythm
- Discover cultural insights from music
- Lessons for all language levels
- Focus on sounding like a native speaker
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Learn English with your favorite songs! Struggling to sound like a local? Can’t remember new words? Feeling stuck in language limbo? Hey, we’ve all been there, and that’s why Encore is about to become your new best friend on your language learning journey. Learn with Lyrics: Forget about boring vocabulary lists. With Encore, you’ll remember new words as easily as the lyrics to your favorite song. Experience the Culture: Find out what inspired each song. Learn about the artist’s ideas, the culture behind the music, and all the little details only locals know. Speak Like a Local: Encore is your ticket to sounding like a native speaker. We use the rhythm of music to fine-tune your pronunciation and sentence formation. For Everyone: We pick songs and lessons for all levels of language learners. So no matter where you are in your learning, we’ll help you get better. With Encore, you’re learning, but it’ll feel like you’re chilling at a concert. Ready to start your language learning tour? Download Encore now! (Only available to learn English. More languages coming soon!) T&C: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/62783546 Privacy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/62783546
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Earworms at 4.8 against Encore's 3.5. Earworms also leads on ratings volume (357 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). Encore's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Earworms sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Encore asks for nothing beyond the download.
Earworms holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Earworms has 357 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Earworms's written reviews are positive against 100% of Encore's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Earworms ships an update every 5 months, Encore monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Earworms | Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (357 ratings) — better | 3.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 357 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | earworms Ltd | Krobe.net |
Customer experience
Earworms
Encore
Bugs and requests
Earworms
Reported bugs
11 issues- App crashes every few minutes on iPhone
- Network error on startup despite internet connection
- Infinite loop on initial setup screen
- App closes unexpectedly during playback
- Restore purchases feature not functioning
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- Activation code cannot be claimed in app
- Tracks download corrupted or fail to load
- Text display shows English instead of native script
- Phrase book download button subscribes to email instead
- App no longer works after OS updates
- Category selection feature removed in newer version
Requested features
11 requests- Additional volume levels for existing languages
- More lessons and expanded content library
- Autoplay feature for continuous listening
- Repeat single track functionality
- Ability to select specific lesson categories
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- Business-focused lesson modules
- Emergency/medical/police interaction lessons
- Grocery shopping and tradesperson lessons
- More Cantonese, Maltese, Hindi, and Finnish content
- Improved booklet formatting and accessibility
- Direct email contact option for support
Encore
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Earworms
- Try before you buyFree
- Essayez avant d’acheterFree
- Álbum de demostraciónFree
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- French Vol. 1$11.99
- Italian Vol. 1$11.99
- Spanish Lat. Am. Vol. 1$11.99
- Portuguese Vol.1$11.99
- French Vol. 2$11.99
- Dutch Vol. 1-2$19.99
- Japanese Vol. 1-2$19.99
- Spanish Lat. Am. Vol. 1-3$27.99
- Bundle deals, French Vol. 1-3$28.99
- Bundle deals, German Vol. 1-3$28.99
- Bundle deals, Italian Vol. 1-3$28.99
- Bundle, Spanish Eu. Vol. 1-3$28.99
- Portuguese Vol.1-3$28.99
Encore
No in-app purchases









